January 13, 2025
Seoul – Ongoing political unrest shows no sign of abating, with President Yoon Seok-yeol still unwilling to cooperate with investigations into the brief martial law he imposed last month that plunged the country into chaos.
A lawyer for Yoon said on Wednesday that the impeached president would go to trial if formally charged or if a court issues an arrest warrant. The move comes as the Office for the Investigation of Senior Officials' Corruption and police prepare a second attempt to detain Mr Yoon, after public opinion soured over an ill-timed confrontation at the presidential palace last week over the first attempt.
However, Yoon’s stance against the CIO-led search warrant has not fundamentally changed. The lawyer stressed that Yoon was unable to comply with the investigation based on an “invalid” detention order issued by the Seoul Western District Court. He argued that jurisdiction belonged to the Seoul Central District Court.
The argument put forward by Yin's legal team simply means that authorities' execution of detention orders and related legal proceedings should be subject to specific conditions set by the suspect. This is an incredibly novel and ridiculous idea because no one in South Korea, regardless of their social, economic or political status, can set such conditions for a detention order and refuse to cooperate with the investigation.
In fact, no one was able to set up a human shield of Presidential Security Services to prevent the execution of the detention order, as Yoon did last Friday, a standoff that lasted more than five hours – the kind of standoff between state agencies that has been criticized around the world. widely reported and compromised national security.
Yin's move was interpreted as a strategy aimed at delaying the execution of the detention order. But his stubborn refusal to fully cooperate with the investigation has made matters worse, amid fears that potentially dangerous physical altercations could break out involving CIO officials, police, presidential security services and protesters.
In preparation for the second detention of Yoon, the Presidential Security Service fortified the presidential palace with buses and barbed wire, turning it into a fortress.
Police are reportedly considering using SWAT teams, armored vehicles and even helicopters to enter the presidential palace. But even if the police succeed in this strategy, it appears difficult for authorities to arrest and transport Yoon for questioning, given that his supporters have gathered in front of the presidential palace.
Yin's insistence on responding to investigations only when he chooses is tantamount to condoning potential conflicts between police and security forces. Is the government prepared for live broadcast around the world of riot police breaking through barricades and helicopters hovering over the presidential palace?
Even if the information chief sought an arrest warrant rather than a detention order, Yoon's position suggests he would find another excuse to avoid complying. To critics, Yoon appeared to be concerned only for his own safety, turning his home into a fortress and pushing young police and soldiers to the brink of physical altercations.
Most South Koreans who witnessed first-hand the shocking and shameful series of political developments triggered by Yoon's declaration of martial law believe that only Yoon's personal direct resolution of the situation can prevent further division of the country and avert a full-blown crisis.
However, Mr Yin failed to fulfill his earlier promise that he “will not evade legal and political responsibility” and there were even rumors that he may have fled his residence. Cheong Wa Dae denied the speculation on Wednesday, but the fact that such suspicions have surfaced is regrettable.
Yin must stop imposing conditions on law enforcement and be willing to accept the judicial process. Failure to do so will only deepen the trauma of a divided nation.
